Cash register



July 23, 1935. w RQBERTSON 2,988,877

CASH REGISTER Original Filed July 27, 1951 ZSnventor William H.Robertson His Gttorneg Patented July 23, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,008,877CASH REGISTER William H. Robertson,

Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton,

Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Original application July 27, 1931,Serial No.

553,329. Divided and this application November 8, 1933, Serial No.697,116

; Claims.

5 1931 to William H. Robertson and is a division of the application forUnited States Letters Patent of William H. Robertson, Serial No.553,329, filed July 27, 1931.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel and absolutelypositive transfer or carrying mechanism for a totalizer adapted to beused in machines of the above mentioned type.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means cooperatingwith the transfer or carrying mechanism to positively restore suchmechanism to its normal position when it has been moved out of itsnormal position through overthrowing of the to'talizer wheels.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawing which accompanies and forms part of thisspecification.

Of said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a detail view of the upper totalizer showing the transfermechanism in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a part of the transfer mechanism for theupper totalizer, showing the transfer arm in retracted position.

Fig. 3 shows the same mechanism as Fig. 2 but with the transfer pawltripped.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the device for restoring the transfer pawl tonormal when it is tripped by overthrowing the totalizer.

Fig. 5 is a detail View of the Geneva transfer mechanism for theoverflow totalizer wheels of the upper totalizer.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the totalizer showing the actuator and thealining device associated I therewith.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The machine disclosed in the parent application, ofwhich this case is a. division, is adapted for recording postage and forprinting and issu ing. gummed postage labels for use on first, second,third and fourth-class mail. It is particularly adapted for use whereheavy packages of diiferent sizes and weights have been weighed todetermine the amount of postage required.

The machine is provided with two separate and independent totalizers,one of which totalizers, namely, the one forming the subject matter ofthis divisional application, is located in that position of the machineusually occupied by indicators, there being no indication provided inthe machine shown in the parent application. This totalizer is a readingtotalizer and is constantly visible through a sight opening in thecabinet. The purpose of this totalizer is to accumulate the amount ofthe postage issued by the machine. 10 This totalizer cannot be reset tozero and movement of the usual control lever to the read posi tion inthe machine of the parent application disables the engaging mechanismfor this reading totalizer. Consequently this totalizer can be en- 15gaged with its actuators only when the machine is set to add.

The main features of this divisional application relate particularly tothe transfer or carrying mechanism of this totalizer and also to the 2alining mechanism associated with the totalizer.

This totalizer, in the parent case, has been designated as the uppertotalizer and for this reason will be so termed in this divisionalapplication.

The same reference numbers as are applied to the various parts of theparent application are used in the present case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Upper totalizer The upper totalizer includes aseries of reading totalizer wheels Ill-l, I42 and I43 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and6), rotatably mounted on a rod 54 carried between a pair of totalizerframes I 49 and I50, loosely mounted on a rod l5! extending between theside frames (not shown) of the ma chine. Gears I52, one secured to theside of each of the wheels MI and 2, are adapted at the proper time tobe brought into engagement with totalizer actuator gears l38 so that theamount corresponding to the amount set up on the keyboard may be addedinto the upper totalizer, as is fully illustrated and described in theparent case above referred to.

The mechanism for engaging the upper totalizer wheels with anddisengaging said wheels from the actuators I38 will not be shown nor de-50 scribed in detail in this divisional application, it being thoughtsuflicient to state here that it is accomplished by oscillation of a camshaft I which in turn receives its motion from the main drive shaft ofthe machine. 55

An aliner is provided to aline the actuators I38 in their adjustedpositions after they have been set. This aliner is normally inengagement with said actuators I38. It is disengaged therefrom beforethe actuators are adjusted and reengaged therewith immediately aftersaid actuators have been set and before the totalizer is disengaged fromthe actuators.

This aliner includes an aliner bar I45 (Figs. 2 and 6) secured to a bailI48 carried by a pair of arms I47 secured on a shaft I88 journaled inthe machine side frames. This shaft I88 is'rocked clockwise to disengagethe aliner I 55 from the actuators I38 and then counter clockwise toreengage said aliner with said actuators at the proper time as is fullydescribed in the parent case.

Transfer mechanism for the upper totalizer A transfer or carry mechanismis provided to advance the totalizer wheel of higher order one step ofmovement when the wheel I42 of lower order passes from 9 to 0. Thismechanism will now be described in detail.

Secured to each of the gears I52 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) for each of thewheels MI and I42 is a ratchet I82 with which cooperates a transfer pawlI83 pivotally carried on an arm I88 of a transfer lever I85 pivoted onthe shaft IEI. A pair of rollers I86 carried on the other arm I87 ofeach'of the levers I85 cooperates with one of a series of transfer camsI88 fast on the shaft I55. The pawls I83 normally cooperate with theratchets I82 in the manner illustrated in Fig. l, to lock the totalizerwheels I 32 so that they may not be manipulated.

-As before stated, the shaft I55 is oscillated first clockwise and thencounter clockwise to normal; On its clockwise movement the cams I88 rockthe levers I85 successively, beginning with the highest order wheel,which in this particular case is the dollar wheel, counter clockwise towithdraw the transfer pawls I83 from cooperative relationship with theirrespective ratchets. The lever I85 for the dollar wheel is rockedcounter clockwise first, followed by the lever I85 for the dime wheeland finally the levers I85 for the penny and half-cent wheels follow. It

will be noted that only three cams I88 are provided whereas referring toFig. 6 it will be noted that four levers I85 are provided. The leversI85 for the penny wheel and for the half-cent wheel are secured togetherby a hub I88 and therefore rock in unison. There is no cam provided forthe lever I85 in the one-half cent bank. A pawl I83 (Fig. 6) carried bythe arm I88 for this bank serves only as a locking pawl to lock theonehalf cent totalizer wheel MI against manipulation. It will be notedby referring to Fig. 6 that the particular pawl I83 associated with theonehalf cent totalizer wheel is secured to its arm I84 by a pin or rivetI98.

After the levers I85 are all rocked counter clockwise, withdrawing thepawls I83 from cooperative relation with their respective ratchets, thetotalizerhaving been engaged with the actuators I38 at approximately thesame time, the totalizer wheels MI and I82 are advanced according to theset-up on the keyboard. If during this adding operation any particulartotalizer wheel passes from 9 to 0, the transfer mechanism is tripped toadd one in the totalizer wheel of next higher order. a V

' This tripping mechanism includes a tripping tooth I9I (F gs. 1 and)secured to the left- 1 three-armed lever 288 pivotally carried on thelever I85.

The rounded end of an arm 28I of the lever 288 is embraced by abifurcated arm 282 of the pawl I83. Clockwise movement of the lever I99rocks the three-armed lever 2B0 counter clockwise and, by the roundedarm 28!, rocks the arm 282 and consequently the pawl I83 clockwise .tothe positions in which these parts appear in Fig. 3. V

Now, when the cam I88 for the particular bank ortransfer lever I85appearing in Figs. 2 and 3, rocks the lever I85 clockwise, obviouslythepawl I83 engages the ratchet I82'(see'Fig. 3) secured to the nexthigher order totalizer wheel, and as the lever I85 rocks clockwise thepawl I83 advances the ratchet I82 and its associated totalizer wheel I32. one step of movement. At the end of the clockwise or restoringmovement of the lever I85 a stud 288 projecting from the arm I84 of saidlever I85 comes into contact with the pawl I83 pressing this pawlagainst the ratchet I82 in such a manner as to lock the ratchet andconsequently the totalizer wheel I82 against movement in eitherdirection.

' As the transfer is effected, that is, as the lever I85 carries thepawl I83 clockwise to advance the totalizer wheel I42, the pawl I83 isrocked counter clockwise about its pivot on the arm I84 thus restoringthe pawl to its 'untripped position. The pawl I83, rocking counterclockwise, rocks the three-armed lever 288 clockwise to normal, and bythe slot I98 and stud I98 rocks the lever I84 counter clockwise to itsnormal position. The

lever I88, the lever 28!! and the pawl I83 are held either in theirnormal positions or in their tripped positions by an aliner 284pivotally carried on the arm I84 of the lever I85, engaging one of twonotches 285 or 288 in the end of. an arm 201 of the three-armed lever288. A spring 208 constantly presses the pawl 284 into cooperativerelation with one of said two notches 285 or 286.

To prevent movement of the totalizer wheels when the locking andtransfer pawls I83 are out ofengagement with the ratchets I82, retainingpawls 289 are pivoted on the rod I85 and cooperate with the ratchet I82for each of the totalizer wheels MI and I42, 7

Due to the'fact that the one-half cent key (not shown) occupies the fiveposition'in its bank, Whenever this key is depressed and the machine isoperated the one-half cent totalizer wheel is rotated five steps orspaces. Therefore it can be seen that every other time the machine isoperated with the one-half cent key depressed, the tripping tooth I9Iattached to the one-half cent key wheel MI trips the transfer to thepenny bank wheel I82 resulting in the addition of l to this pennytotalizer wheel M2.

Due to lost motion which may reside in the.

this case-the wheel rotating rapidly in a clockwise direction (Fig; 1might overthrow suffici ently to carry the tripping tooth ISI intoconwet with the nose I92 on the lever I 94 thus rocking this lever andtripping the pawl I83. The totalizer wheel would then be" restored toits proper position'by the retaining pawl 209 or by the totalizeractuator I38, leaving the transfer tripped. Less than one-half toothspace overthrowioi' the actuator I38 has been found suiiicient tooverthrow the totalizer wheel sufiiciently to trip a transfer. Thereforemechanism is provided in the present machine to restore the transfermechanism to its normal position when it is tripped by overthrowing thetotalizer wheels in the above described manner. This mechanism will nowbe described.

The above mentioned restoring mechanism includes a restoring tooth 2 I 5(Fig. 4) integral with the tripping tooth ISI. This tooth 2 I5 isadapted to cooperate with a nose 2I6 on the arm I91 of the lever I94.The tooth 2I5 occupies the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 when9 is standing on the totalizer wheel. It will be noted from Fig. 1 thatless than one-half tooth space movement of the wheel will cause I9I tostrike I92. If the totalizer wheel is overthrown a half step or less sothat the tooth I9l strikes the nose I92 with a sudden impact, it rocksthe lever I94 clockwise, and the tooth 2I5 moves beyond the nose 2I6toward, but not all the way into the position in which it is shown inFig. 4. At this time the next tooth space of the actuator is not alinedwiththe aliner I45, and therefore when the aliner I45 (Figs. 2 and 6) ismoved into engagement with the proper tooth space on the actuator I38and if said actuator has been overthrown the aliner I45 moves saidactuator backwardly or clockwise to its proper position thus rotatingthe totalizer gear I52 associated therewith and its correspondingtotalizer wheel I42 backwardly or counter clockwise to their normalpositions. The one-half step or less overthrow of the wheel I42 is notsufficient to cause the next ratchet tooth of the ratchet wheel I42 topass from under the pawl 209, and therefore this pawl will not interferewith the return movement of the totalizer wheel. On the other hand itwill assist in such return of the totalizer wheel. When the aliner I45returns the actuator I38, the tooth 2 l 5 on its backward movement wipesby the nose ZIB and rocks the lever I94 backwardly counter clockwise toits normal position. This provides a positive return of the totalizerwheel when it is accidentally overthrown.

If the transfer is authentic, that is, not caused by an overthrow, thetooth I 9| together with the ratchet I92 and the totalizer wheel I42 aremoved one full step, in which case the aliner I45 is reengaged with theproper tooth space of the actuator I38 and the totalizer wheel I42 isnot rotated backwardly since the retaining pawl 209 moves into the nextsucceeding notch of the ratchet I82. It will be noted that the nose I92on the arm I93 is offset from the arm I91 as is clearly shown in Fig. 6,and that likewise the tooth I9I which is in line with the nose I92 isoffset from the tooth 2 I 5 which is in the same plane with the nose2I6. Thus it can be seen that during the normal position of thetotalizer wheel I42 the tooth I9I cooperates only with the nose I92 andthe tooth 2 I5 cooperates only with its associated nose 2 I 6.

The usual Geneva transfer mechanism disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 isprovided to transfer or carry into the overflow totalizer wheels I43.

This transfer mechanism includes the usual disk 2 H carrying a singletooth 2IB adapted to cooperate with a gear 2I9 on the rod I95. The diskII! is secured to-the totalizer wheel of lower order and when this wheelhas completed one rotation and passes from 9 to 0, the tooth 2I8cooperates with the gear 2 I9 to advance this gear one step which gear2I9 also meshes with a gear 320 on the next higher order totalizerwheel, thus advancing the latter wheel one step of movement.

Since the various movements of the transfer elements have been givenabove in the detailed description of the transfer mechanism it is notthought necessary to again repeat the operation of these elements.

While the forms of mechanisms herein shown and described are admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarly stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the forms ofembodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer;a transfer operating pawl normally in engagement with a totalizer wheelto lock the same against movement; an operating lever supporting saidpawl and normally maintaining it in its locking position; means to movethe lever to disengage the pawl from the wheel, said means also beingadapted to restore the lever; a device carried by the lever and adaptedto move the pawl into a position to turn the wheel one step when saidlever is restored to its normal position; a member connected to saiddevice and adapted to operate the latter; and means connected to atotalizer wheel of next lower order to operate said member.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer;an actuator therefor; a pawl normally engaging a totalizer wheel to lockthe same in its normal position; a tripping member associated with awheel of next lower order; means intermediate the tripping member andthe pawl to move the pawl into a position to effect a transfer; analining device cooperating with the actuator to positively aline theactuator and the totalizer wheel; and means on the tripping member andoperable upon an operation of the actuator alining means to operate saidin termediate means reversely to restore them to their normal positionswhen a wheel has been overthrown in the act of transferring.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer;a transfer pawl adapted to turn the totalizer wheel to effect a transferand normally in a position to lock the wheel with which it isassociated; mechanism to move the pawl into position to effect atransfer; and a single member associated with the wheel of next lowerorder for operating said mechanism and for restoring said mechanism toits normal position when the totalizer wheel is overthrown during theact of transferring.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a totalizer;normally ineffective means to eifect a transfer; means on the totalizerto render the normally ineifective means effective; means to restore thetotalizer when said totalizer is overthrown; and means on the secondmentioned means to restore the normally ineffective means to ineffectiveposition when the latter has been rendered effective by overthrowing thetotalizer.

with said operating means and adapted to move the transfer operatingmember intovposition to turn the wheel one step when said operatingmeans is restored to its normal position; a pivoted member connected tosaid device and adapted to i.

operate the latter; and means associated with a wheel of next lowerorder to operate said, piv oted member.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON:

